Remember that infamous “social experiment” with the guy and the puppy, demonstrating how easily kids could be lured away? Well, there’s a new viral video that’s even more unsettling and just as unnecessary. This one specifically targets the fears of parents with teenagers, and the way it “educates” is downright disturbing.
Meet the Prankster
Meet Alex Monroe, a self-proclaimed prankster with a popular YouTube channel boasting over a million subscribers. In his latest video, he deviates from his usual antics to deliver a so-called lesson about the dangers of social media. By creating fake social media accounts, he collaborates with the unsuspecting parents to draw their teens into risky situations.
Each “experiment” unfolds similarly: Monroe explains he will meet a young girl, while the parents confidently insist their daughter would never make such a dangerous choice as to meet a stranger. Yet, the girl ultimately decides to go along with it, only to be confronted by her frantic parents. Here’s the video if you want to see it for yourself.
The Impact of Fear
Yes, it’s alarming to think about your teenage daughters meeting online predators. Social media can indeed be perilous, and parents must stay vigilant. But what do these scare tactics truly accomplish? In my opinion, they do little more than erode trust between parents and their children. Parenting expert Laura Thompson points out that this video perpetuates the myth that every child is always in danger from strangers, which simply isn’t true.
The girls featured in the video appear terrified and traumatized, believing for a moment that they are under attack. While I may be in the minority here, I find this tough-love approach to parenting deeply unsettling. We should be teaching our kids how to safely navigate social media, not scaring them with stings that feel invasive and wrong.
The Reality of Danger
Additionally, this video amassed over 12 million views in just two days. The earlier puppy video similarly shocked viewers by revealing how quickly children engage with strangers. While it was indeed surprising to see kids approaching unknown adults, the reality is that the feared “boogeyman” is extremely rare. A Washington Post analysis highlighted that only 0.1 percent of missing persons cases involve what we typically consider a “stranger kidnapping.”
The phrase “One share can save a life” pops up sporadically throughout the video. I doubt any lives were actually saved, but I’m sure revenue was generated. Viral videos can be lucrative, which is why so many creators strive to produce them.
Conclusion
While it’s natural to be concerned about the potential threats of social media for our teens, I truly believe that these fear-based strategies are excessive, and they leave girls feeling violated.
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In summary, while the dangers of social media are undeniable, using scare tactics to address them can do more harm than good, especially when it comes to trust between parents and teens.
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